The Yellowstone
River

Big
Sky Fly Fishers
Big Sky Fly Fishers provides guided fly fishing trips on the Yellowstone River
for anglers of all abilities. We also offer multiple day packages that include
the guides, flies, lodging, and meals. Outfitter
#
8836.Sponsored
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The Yellowstone River is the longest river in Montana. Throughout its
entire length from its beginning in Yellowstone
National Park to its
confluence with the Missouri
River in North Dakota, the river is free
of any major dams, although a couple of diversion dams do exist. As such,
none of its flows are regulated in any way.

This section of bigskyfishing.com covers the Yellowstone River from
the Yellowstone Park border down to the town of Billings.
For those seeking information about the Yellowstone River in Yellowstone
National Park,
please visit our Yellowstone
River in Yellowstone National Park section.
Additionally, for anglers looking to test their mettle on the various
warm water species found on the Yellowston River in the eastern part
of the state (downstream from Billings), please visit our Lower
Yellowstone River section. Finally, unlike the Bighorn River, quality trout fishing exists on the Yellowstone River for more than 300 miles, providing
lots of water for anglers to choose from.

General River Information

The fly fishing on the Yellowstone River is excellent. Not by accident
the Yellowstone River is internationally known as one of the premiere
trout waters in the United States. Cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, large
whitefish and brown trout are all found in abundant numbers in the upper
half of the river, while the lower half (below Billings) turns primarily
into a warm water fishery of large walleye, catfish and sturgeon.

While
fly fishing pressure and floating is heavy on the Yellowstone, it is
not completely over-run with anglers and floaters like the Bighorn
River can be. This is because the long length of the Yellowstone River, combined
with numerous access sites, helps spread anglers and floaters around.

The Yellowstone River is a river that is generally best fished from
a boat. While excellent fly fishing can be found for wade anglers - and
it is a popular river for wade fishing - anglers fishing from boats have
a distinct advantage on the Yellowstone River. The river is generally
wide, and in its upper section, flows very quickly. The river is also
too deep to wade across, limiting a wade angler's ability to reach numerous
excellent fishing spots. If you need a portable boat for fishing the
Yellowstone River, visit our fishing
boats section for helpful product
information about boats for fly fishing.

The Yellowstone River flows through some gorgeous scenery. In the rivers
upper stretch, it flows through the beautiful Paradise Valley, with the
Absaroka Mountains flanking the river on all sides.

The river leaves the mountains downstream from Gardiner and then flows through the beautiful Paradise Valley.

In Livingston, the river turns in an easterly
direction. Between Livingston and Big Timber, the Crazy Mountains and
the Absaroka Mountains are all visible in the distance. The combination
of distant mountains, cottonwood trees and the high plains all make for
a unique and scenic float trip. As the Yellowstone River approaches Billings,
the mountains begin to fade into the distance as the river continues
to run through the prairie, often flanked on one side by small cliffs
and hills.

As mentioned, fly fishing and floating pressure can be heavy on the
river, as the Yellowstone River is a popular destination spot for visiting
anglers on a Montana fly fishing trip. The floating and fly fishing pressure
is heaviest between Gardiner and Livingston. Downstream from Livingston,
the pressure on the river lessens - significantly. For anglers and floaters
looking for solitude, look at fishing or floating the river below Livingston
or Big Timber, Montana.